Hearing this on a piano is like hearing it in a whole new light. It really shows what an incredible piece of music this is!

Eddie Van Halen got the idea for this instrumental after playing on an acoustic guitar during a New Year’s Eve party at Ted Templeman’s house on 12/31/78. Templeman was surprised that Eddie could play an acoustic guitar just as well as an electric and suggested the guitarist write an acoustic instrumental for Van Halen II. He recorded it on a nylon-string Ovation. The song became a regular part of Eddie’s solo spot on tour.

Derek Sherinian was a member of Dream Theatre and also toured and recorded with a plethora of iconic acts such as Alice Cooper, Kiss and Billy Idol, as well as some of the world’s most renowned musicians, including Allan Holdsworth, Yngwie Malmsteen, Billy Sheehan, Al Di Meola, Steve Lukather, Zakk Wylde and Slash, to name a few.Watch the video below.

Here’s his new video, uploaded 4/19/16:

Here’s Derek’s first video of “Spanish Fly,” recorded on his iPhone on 7/27/14: